Unitfd statfs



Dec. 29, 1925. 1,567,802

. G. w. GREENLAND I NTERNAL C OMBUSTION ENGI NEA Filed August 8, 1921 QM/VM l TTDRNEK Patented Dec. 29, 1925,

UNITED rattan INTERNAL-COMBUSTN Application filed August 8, 1921.

T all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Grenen VILLIAM GREENLAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of V Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and Improved Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of en- 19 gines in which a combustible fluid is introduced within the cylinder and there ignited to produce force to drive the piston, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide an engine of this type that shall lf" be particularly e'l'licient in its method ofv operation.

@ne form of engine embodying my invention, and in the construction and use of which the objects here-in set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- 4 Figure 1 is a view in central longitudinal section through the cylinder and crank case of my improved engine.

Figure 2 is a similar view ona plane located at right angles to the plane of View of Figure 1, and as denoted by the dotted line 2 2 of Figure 1'.

In the operation of internal combustion engines, as largely practiced at the present time, much heat generated by thel gases nited within the cylinder is objectionable and a detriment, and consequently more or less complicated and expensive means are required to dispose of such heat. As is well known, heat properly treated may be converted into power, andI propose, in the practice of my present invention, to conserve the heat heretofore wasted in the operation of internal combustion engines and utilize such heat for the production of power to be used as an aid in driving 4the engine, it being my purpose to prevent escape of the heat generated by the exploding gases in contra-distinction to aiding its escape, as heretofore practiced.

I am aware that water has heretofore been introduced within the combustion chambers of the cylinders of engines, of the type now being discussed, and while such engines were Ainider operation, and while I propose to LENG-ENTE.

Serial No. 490,480.

employ water as a means for converting the generated heat into power I do this in a way to conserve much of such heat and at the same time employ the water for accomplishing other desirable and useful results.

An engine embodying my invention and equipped to accomplish these results is illustrated .in the accompanying drawings in which the numeral 5 indicates the base of the engine having a bottom cap 6 to close the opening into the crank chamber 7 within which the crank 8 of a crank shaft 9 is located, said shaft being provided with the usual iy or balance wheel 10. lIhe cylinder 1l is supported by the base, in the construction herein shown such cylinder being formed integral with the base, and a piston 12 is mounted for reciprocating movement within the cylinder and is connected by a pitman 13 with the crank 8. Any suitable means may be employed for introducing the fuel into the cylinder and for disposing of the exhaust therefrom, a *satisfactory structure embodying inlet and exhaust valves 14 and 15 respectively located in the top portion of the cylinder and the combustion chamber 16 therein, each of said valves having a stem projecting through a valve case 17 or 18 secured in the head of the cylinder, each valve being held to its seat as by a spring, and each valve being operated as by a valve lever 19 tor 2O and connecting rods 2l or 22 operatively engaged with valve operating cams 23 (one only being shown) and a cam shaft 24` that is connected, as by means of gears, with the crank shaft 9.

As an aid in maintaining heat within the cylinder an insulating jacket 25 is applied to its upper end, this being the part of the cylinder within which the heat is generated and within which it is used, this jacket being hollow and the space within it being utilized in 'any well known manner to prevent radiation of heat therethrough, a vacuum being contemplated in the structure herein shown.

A spark plug 26 is applied to the cylinder in any well known manner, as herein shown this plug being projected through the side wall of the cylinder at its upper end into the combustion chamber 16. The terminals or spark points of this plug are so arranged that moisture willnot collect between them, as herein shown these terminals having pointed ends with areas insuliicient to retain moisture to an extent to break a current of electricity across the gap between such terminals 27,28.

its hereinbetore mentioned I employ water or other liquid that may'hare properties to effectthe same results as those attained with water and this is mixed with air and with the gasoline or other fuel in a peculiar manner. An air supply pipe 29 extends from any suitable source to conduct air to the crank chamber 7, and a by-pass 30, formed in the wall of the base 5, conducts such air, under pressure, for delivery to and through a port 3l in the piston l2. This portv lea-ds to an annular channel `32 extending' around the piston within its walls and haring air outlet ports 33 opening into a groove formed in the outer surface ot the piston. The upper end et this piston is preferably tapered to a smaller dimension at its upper end and a number ot collecting grooves 35 are termed in this tapered surface. A valve 36, ot any ordinary construction, may be employed to control back vHowthrough the'port 3l, a flap valve being shown-herein for this purpose. In order to insulate the top of the piston, and thereby retard lradiation ot' heat therethrough, an inner hollow jacket 37 is provided to lit the upper portion ot a recess 38 in the under side of the piston, the space within this jacket beingntilized in any manner that may be desired to prevent radiation of heat therethrough from within the combustion chamber i6, and the upper end ot' the piston preferably has av collection recess 39 to catchl such spray as mayv tall within it. The j aclret 87 may be heldin place by any suitable means, as by use oi an annular nut et() fitting the screw threaded mouth ot' the recess 38.

The water or other liquid employed in the operation of the engine may be supplied in various ways, and it is preferably supplied to theI piston groove 43. As herein shown a water chamber el is formed within the wall of the cylinder and this may be connected with any suitable source of supply. A supply passage 4-2 extends from the chamber 41 and opens through the wall ot 'the cylinder but against the side'ot the piston when the 'latter is in any but its upward position. In this way the water is supplied within the combustion chamber 16 practically at the boiling of the operation as to which is not required,

suppose thepiston to be at the upper limit otl its exhaust stroke, the exhaust ralre consequently having` just been closed and the inlet ralre haringP just been opened the tollowing action will'talre place: As the piston descends a charge of gasoline and air will be drawn into the combustion chamber in a manner well known. This takes place Yuntil the piston is about halt way down when the inlet ralre will be closed, the cam 28 being shaped and positioned to eil'ect this operation. During the later part of this stroke, a charge haring been trapped within the combustion chamber, a partial vacuum will be created.

In this downward morement of the piston its lower portion will close the air pipe and the air in the crank chamber will be compressed. At or nea-r the completion ot this downward intake stroke oi the piston the port 3l will be opened to the bypass 30 and the air compressed within the crank chamber '7 `will be Very 'forcibly ejected through the port 3l and through the air inlet ports 33 into the channel l-l and the partial vacuum within the combustion chamber 16 will. aid in this result. ,By rei son of the t'act that the combustion chamber in the downward slrolrje of the piston has been partially filled with air, this supply oit air from the crank chamber will increase the pressure within the combustion chamber. As the piston approaches the lower limit of each of its strokes it will uncover the suj'ijjily passage 42 and water will escape from the waterchamber 4l into a water receiving. groove /l-S in the outer wall of the piston, by which groove said water will be carried upwardly within the cylinder at cach upward stroke ot the piston and into theenlarged upper end or combustion chamber ot the cylinder. As the piston descends a substantial portion of thiswater will be deposited in the groove 3l, und when the air is forcibly ejected through the outlet ports 33, when the piston is down as hereinabove described, this water will be blown in a spray to all parts ol the combustion chamber and deposited upon its wall as well as being collected Vwithin the colleetinr grooves 35 and recess 39.

As the pistonreturns within the combustion chamber in its compression stroke the charge composed ot intermingled air, gas and water vapor will be compressed and will `until it reaches the lower part of its path in the cylinder, when the by-pass and ports Wand 31 will be opened and closed as hereinabove described, and the combined air and water will be blown into the combustion chamber as above set out. At or about the time the piston reaches its lowermost position the exhaust valve will operate to open the exhaust port in the ordinary manner, and then, as the piston travels baclrwardly vin its exhaust stroke the products of combustion will be forced from the combustion chamber, and this will be aided materially by the forcible entry of air and water into the combustion chamber that will operate to remove all of the products of combustion thus scavengingl the interior of the cylinder, or flushing it outand leaving nothing` but pure air and water vapor within the cylinder that is now preparedtor the entry of a new charge ot fuel, when the operations hereinabove described will be repeated.

The water when it is blown into the coinbustion chamber is substantially,i'fnot quite, at the boiling point and is instantly converted into steam withall ol the advantages attending its presence in the combustion chamber, such as the sealing of lioints within said chamber, reducing;` tempeature occasioned by combustion therein, aiding` in the combustion oit the products within the chamber, reducing temperatures attending compression within said chamber', &c., it incidentally here being' remarked that this latter result will permitan extremely high coniipression within the combustion chamber to be obtained by reason of the larger amount ot air that may be introduced, er by decreasing the space between the piston and the top et the cylinder when the piston is up, thus increasing economy and enablingv the use o't' a smaller charge in a less combustion space.

lt should be noted that the water in the chamber 4l, which chamber is extended into the comparatively thick head of the Vcylinder, is made use of to transfer the heat, much el which would otherwise be lost by reason ot the thickness of the head, to the interior o't' the cylinder andV incidentally the temperature of the valve cases within the head is kept at an ei'leotive working limit.

The valves 14 and l5 are each provided 'with annular grooves on their upper surfaces, into which grooves the lower edges of the valvel cases 17 and 18 extend. With this construction the moisture within the combustion chamber will accumulate in these grooves and thus eli'ectively seal the valves and prevent the escape of pressure at this point.

In accordance with the `provisions of the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles oi operation of my invention, tol@other with the device which l now consider to represent lthe best embodiment thereof; but l desire to have it understood that the device shown is only iliustrative, and that A the invention may be carried out by other means.

l claiml. An internal combustion engine comprising la cylinder, means for supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for iguiting,l said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member, and means for collecting,` water to close an air inlet port and for thereby introducing said water in the form of a spray within the combustion chamber of the cylinder' during operation of said piston.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising` a cylinder, means l'or supplying` a combustible charge thereto, means for igVH uitingsaid charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member, and means for collectingi water to close an air inlet port and for thereby introducine,` said water in the form of a spray within the combustion chamber et the cylinder at sulastantially the end ot the down-ward stroke et the piston.

3. nu internal combustion engine comprising' a cylinder, means for supplying' a eombustil'ile charge thereto, means for io;- nitinp; said charge, a piston located within the cylinder' and operatively connected with a driven member, and means ttor collecting water to close an air inlet port and tor thereby introducing: said water in the 'torni ot a spray within the combustion chamber of' the cylinder at each reciprocatiunl stroke ot the piston.

. lin 1.1 ina combustion cumin. coniwater to close an air inlet port and for thereby introducingi said water substantially at the boiling; point within the combustion chamber of the cylinder during the operation oi' said piston.

5. in internal combustion engine comprising a' cylinder, means 'tor supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for ignit` ing said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member, an air chamber, means for compressing air in said chamber, means for controlling` tlow et the conipresse'd air through a port to said combustion chamber, and means for collecting' water to close said port in the path of the llow of said air whereby said water is blown spray into said chamber.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, means for supplying a combustible charge ther'eto, means 'for igniting said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member and having means 'for the collection of water therein, means for supplying water to said collecting means, and means for forcing the water in the itorm oit a spray from said collecting means within said combustion chamber ot the cylinder.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, means 'for supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for igniting said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member and having means for the collection or water therein, means for supplying water to said collecting means, a chamber, means ttor compreseingl air within said'chamber, and means tor Idelivering said compressed air to said water collecting means and through said water whereby the latter is blown in a spray within the combustion chamber' of the cylinder.

8. An internal coinl'mstion engine com 'prising a cylinder, means tor supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for igniting said charge', a piston located within thecylinder and operatively connected with a driven member. a by-pass extending from the vchamber underneath the piston to a point to be opened to the combustion chamber., means for controlling supply of compressed air through said by-pass, means for supplying air to the chamber underneath the piston. and means for collecting water t-o close said by-pass within the path of flow of said compressed air to the combustion chamber.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, means for supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for igniting said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member, a port to supply water within the cylinder and located to be opened and closedby the piston to deliver water to the upper endthereof, a. chamber, means for compressing air within said chamber, and means for delivering said compressed air through a port closed by said water within 'the combustion chamber to convert said water into a spray therein.

10. An internal combustion engine coinprising a cylinder, means for supplying a bustion chamber, and means for supplying if water -to the current oic said compressed air in its passage `from said compression to said A combustionchamber and through a port closed by said water to be sprayed in the mixture et iuel and compressed air prior to firing or' the combustible charge.

l1. An internal combustion engine coinprising a cylinder, means for supplying a combustible charge thereto, means for igniting said charge, a piston located within the cylinder and operatively connected with a driven member, means upon said piston for the collection of water, means for supplying Water tol said collecting means, ports opening into said collecting means and closed by said piston, and means for supplying coinpressed air through said ports to blow the water from said collecting means within said compression chamber.

l2. An internal combustion engine coinprising a cylinder, a reciprocating` piston therein, the head of the piston and cylinder head being cooperatively constructed to lform an explosive area of relatively small dimensions such as to cause pre-ignition of a dry charge under compression and means for delivering a charge of moisture to the explosive area when the piston is in a lowered position whereby to reduce the teni-V perature of the charge whereby lgreatly increased compression above the point ot seltignition of a dry charge is obtained at the moment of explosion.

GEORGE VILLIAM GREENLAND.

Uli 

